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Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

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Re: Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

amherstblackbear said:
I'm not going to disagree. I just think it's irrelevant. In my 4th decade of watching Maine hockey (yeah, I'm cheating and counting the late 80s as a full decade), it's becoming increasingly clear just how much Maine caught lightning in a bottle with Walsh.

He's gone. There was never any point in comparing TW to Walsh. The comparison is between TW and other candidates, all of whom share one thing in common (they're not Walsh, either).

I think there's potential with Red, and there are some promising early signs, but it's still all promise at this point. If Maine is going to rejoin the upper ranks of college hockey (maybe not at the very top, but consistently top 10 or 12) . . . we're not going to know until 2020 at the earliest. It'll take time to get there, and even if he gets there, it'll take a few more seasons to demonstrate Maine can stay there.

On the other hand, if Red doesn't work out, it's probably not going to take 6-7 years to find out.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is, I hope we don't find out where Maine stands for a good long while. :)
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Well said. The only thing I disagree on is I don't think it will take till 2020. I say more like 2017. That will give Red 3 full recruiting classes and a purge of what's here now. Not to say there isn't some talent on the current roster, because there is. I think Red is the closest thing, attitude and style wise to Shawn as we could get. Red was in that bottle with the lightning. I, as you, have been watching/following Maine hockey since the late 80's, 87 to be specific, when I arrived on campus. A lot has changed with college hockey, and with one or two exceptions, nobody can maintain a consistent level of dominance or even in the 10-12 range. Look at Mich St, Col College, Miami etc etc. There is too much parody and outside competition for the kids. There will be up years and down years. Hopefully more up than down but that's the new reality IMO. College hockey is a lot like the NFL is now. You can go from worst to first and vice versa in the span of a year or two. So all you can do is enjoy the ride. Red will get them back to prominence but it will rise and fall like every other program. Red won't let it slip as far as it did with Timmay, but I also don't expect him to bring the sustained success Shawn had either. It is what it is.
 
Re: Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

Aside from this past weekend, it's been amazing to see the turnaround from last year for winning on home ice. And now it finally comes down to exactly what Red has been saying all year, that they only worry about the next game on the schedule. They've achieved beyond expectations this year, but now that it's near the end it's upsetting to hear the old excuse of "gripping their sticks too tight" turned into being "a little tight in the collar" as the excuse from Friday night, even though it's pretty much the truth. Old habits die hard, but I think every year from here on out they're going to be more and more competitive and in a position for NCAA bids in March.
 
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Re: Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

You Nancys are all such conservative pussys. Maine wins NC3 after sweeping HE playoffs.
 
Re: Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

all bear said:
You Nancys are all such conservative pussys. Maine wins NC3 after sweeping HE playoffs.
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:D Hope I'll be one of the first to say "you told me so."

Did anyone else catch that Jack Capuano was fined $10,000 for a fight that happened in the last 5 minutes of a game over the weekend? He wasn't doing the fighting, but I guess it's a rule that if someone from your team instigates a fight in the last 5 minutes of a game the head coach is automatically fined that amount.
 
Re: Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

DoubleA said:
Your keyboard got stuck a little...or you hit your head. Last weekend was atrocious, OK? The last three weeks were less than stellar, OK? Look at the season, the whole season. Maine crawled out of the sewer where the other guy left them, up to the gutter, then back onto the street. One season. As recently as 10 days ago, they were in the discussion for an NCAA bid. 10 days ago. The progress made this season was/is very commendable. 2020 six years away. Get some sleep and try again.
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Do the math.

1. Maine got off to a quick start, then fizzled.
2. Maine didn't just have a soft schedule this year, they had a historically soft schedule.
3. The first half of that schedule was softer by far than the second.

If you think 1+2+3 = a landmark improvement, go ahead and lobby for 5-year extension for Red. I'm gonna hang on and insist on seeing more data.

Don't get me wrong, I think he's on track. But Maine isn't close to being "back" just yet. There's a ton of work still to do.
 
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Re: Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

ck1969 said:
Well said. The only thing I disagree on is I don't think it will take till 2020. I say more like 2017. That will give Red 3 full recruiting classes and a purge of what's here now.
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I don't think we disagree. I wouldn't support giving anyone until 2020 to show signs of success. :D

I just meant that it'll take a few seasons of sustained success to start to rebuild Maine's rep in the bigger scheme of things. I guess I was thinking if Red gets results by 2017, then 2020 gives him a chance to show he can keep Maine there. That's all. Not a big deal either way.
 
Re: Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

I keep seeing that they overachieved, really? People thought they were going to be last in HE or something? They came right where I thought they would, lower tier in HE, in the playoffs. Now if they hadn't choked or worn out or whatever you think happened in the last 3 weeks and got home ice then I would say they overachieved.

This year is the honeymoon, next year is going to be much harder. Red is going to have some of his guys in there and folks will expect them to do something. Who is the goalie? Is the D going to improve, will he change style to protect rookie goalie? I like Red already, he understands the situation here. But it will take some time to see if he can really turn it around
 
Re: Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

It's overachieving to put up 14 goals against BU in two games. To handily beat B.C. like they did was overachieving and unexpected. The skid the last few games does tarnish the accomplishments of the season. But they have brought a lot of joy back into following Maine Hockey, and I think that is quite an accomplishment after last year. Things do look promising for the future, and don't forget that this season isn't over yet!
 
Re: Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

walrus said:
I keep seeing that they overachieved, really? People thought they were going to be last in HE or something? They came right where I thought they would, lower tier in HE, in the playoffs. Now if they hadn't choked or worn out or whatever you think happened in the last 3 weeks and got home ice then I would say they overachieved.

This year is the honeymoon, next year is going to be much harder. Red is going to have some of his guys in there and folks will expect them to do something. Who is the goalie? Is the D going to improve, will he change style to protect rookie goalie? I like Red already, he understands the situation here. But it will take some time to see if he can really turn it around
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They overachieved for a good part of the year with their home record. They underachieved on the road, and unfortunately the last weekend of the season. If you had said at the start of the year they will finish 6th I would have thought 5th or 6th is where I would have expected them. If you had said that going into the last weekend with a single win over Providence they would finish 3rd that would have been over achieving. So words can be parsed however one wants to.

Agree with others that it was fun to watch "Maine Hockey" again! We had a team that attacked the net, that forechecked relentlessly and who protected their home ice. Disagree with you on next year being harder. Our one area that needs to be replenished is in net. Otherwise the hope is that for the third consecutive year we bring in some guys who can make a difference. Personally I don't think this rebuild takes that long. The two strongest classes we have are the two youngest. Next year Leen is the only senior who, when healthy, has been a scoring threat. Add some size along with praying that one of the guys in net becomes a puck stopper and Maine should improve upon this year.

Now let's hope they can take care of Merrimack and give PC some fits and maybe get a bounce in game 3!
 
Re: Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

walrus said:
I keep seeing that they overachieved, really? People thought they were going to be last in HE or something? They came right where I thought they would, lower tier in HE, in the playoffs. Now if they hadn't choked or worn out or whatever you think happened in the last 3 weeks and got home ice then I would say they overachieved.

This year is the honeymoon, next year is going to be much harder. Red is going to have some of his guys in there and folks will expect them to do something. Who is the goalie? Is the D going to improve, will he change style to protect rookie goalie? I like Red already, he understands the situation here. But it will take some time to see if he can really turn it around
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I don't think it's so much as overachieved, but further along than expected...at least up until a couple weeks ago. 15 wins certainly isn't overachieving. As I recall most everyone predicted 17-19 wins. So if anything they underachieved a little bit. They were where they were in the standings because every team outside the top 5 all had basically the same record. Take away Minny, BC, Union & Ferris and everyone else is within a game or 2 of each other. All 15-19 wins and 9-12 losses. Maine could've easily had 20 wins this year.

*And what would've their record been if they hadn't had the "cupcake" schedule this year?
 
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Re: Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

walrus said:
I keep seeing that they overachieved, really? People thought they were going to be last in HE or something? They came right where I thought they would, lower tier in HE, in the playoffs. Now if they hadn't choked or worn out or whatever you think happened in the last 3 weeks and got home ice then I would say they overachieved.

This year is the honeymoon, next year is going to be much harder. Red is going to have some of his guys in there and folks will expect them to do something. Who is the goalie? Is the D going to improve, will he change style to protect rookie goalie? I like Red already, he understands the situation here. But it will take some time to see if he can really turn it around
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Right on the money. I think the other thing that people forget about Maine is that back in the 80s, UM was the first of the "new breed" of college hockey programs that made a splash on the national scene as well as showing other schools (including some of the established ones....BC and UNH!!!) that college hockey could be a money maker and marketing tool. I don't think that it is a coincidence that as soon as Maine started winning consistently both BC and UNH put more money into their facilities and programs.
 
Re: Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

blackbearbandie said:
It's overachieving to put up 14 goals against BU in two games. To handily beat B.C. like they did was overachieving and unexpected. The skid the last few games does tarnish the accomplishments of the season. But they have brought a lot of joy back into following Maine Hockey, and I think that is quite an accomplishment after last year. Things do look promising for the future, and don't forget that this season isn't over yet!
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Beating BU this year was like beating Maine last year, whoopee freakin doo. As far as style of play goes, yes it changed for the better, much more fun to watch. But you are right the season isn't over, they still have a chance to over achieve. Starts with MC
 
Re: Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

Jon said:
I have a feeling unh1982 hasn't been past the front door at Schneider all year.
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Jon you are 100% correct , but have watched most of the games on cox and haven't seen it completely full , perhaps lots of season ticket holders are not showing up . Next question are students on break during the playoffs .
 
Re: Maine Hockey 2013-2014 - Red White Bleeding Blue...

walrus said:
He hasn't looked very good to me, the first goal Saturday night was as bad as it gets for a goalie, no way it should have gone in. Is he a better goalie than Sully, no doubt but he hasn't played like it lately
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I agree he hasn't looked good of late, but it's tough to go with Sully in a 1 n done scenario. I personally think Marty is a bit worn out. I'd go with Marty, then if they end up going to Prov, I'd rotate them. Marty, Sully, Marty if necessary.
 
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